Lenses are the most important part of any eyeglass order. You’ll want to consider both your prescription and lifestyle when choosing the type of material, coating or other features. Often the best solution is a combination. You can rely on our opticians to explain your lens options. All lenses are produced with a scratch-resistant coating by Carl Zeiss Vision, one of the leading lens manufacturers in the industry.
Materials
High index lenses are modern technology’s most attractive lenses because they are both thin and lightweight. They slim down strong prescriptions reducing eye magnification in farsighted corrections and minimize thick edges on nearsighted glasses. UV protection and a scratch-resistant coating are built in.
Trivex™ and polycarbonate lenses are thin, lightweight and the most impact resistant of all fashion lenses. This combination often makes them the lens of choice for kids, sports, or folks who lead active lives. UV protection and scratch-resistance are built in. Trivex™ and polycarbonate lenses can be combined with special frames to make highly impact-resistant safety glasses—ideal for industrial job sites or the home handyman.
Traditional plastic lenses are some of the most cost effective while still offering built in scratch resistance.
Polarized lenses are the most popular choice for sunglasses. They reduce the sun’s glare from road surfaces, car hoods, water, snow and buildings making it more comfortable—and safer—to see outside. They offer 100%UV protection while improving visual clarity and depth perception.
Types
Progressive lenses, sometimes called no-line bifocals, offer a gradual transition from distance vision through intermediate vision to near vision without the image jumps. No visible lines mean these lenses ease eye strain and look great.
Multifocal lenses, also known as bifocals and trifocals, provide correction for various distances through one lens—usually one segment for near and one segment for far. Trifocals also add an intermediate distance for activities about arm’s length away like working on a computer.
Transitions® are clear indoors and turn dark outdoors. They block 100% of harmful UV rays and help reduce glare. Transitions also offers Drivewear lenses that provide the ideal level of darkness behind the windshield of a vehicle. Learn more about Transitions.
Coatings & other features
Scratch-resistant coatings are included with all lenses manufactured by Group Health. A hard coating is applied to the lens so that it holds up better to everyday wear and cleaning.
Glare-free lens coatings remove distracting reflections on both side of your lenses and improve vision for night driving and working on computers. Zeiss, the exclusive provider of glare-free lens coatings to Group Health, offers a high-quality, durable anti-reflective coating that resists water, dirt and dust making lenses easier to clean and great at reducing glare.
Ultraviolet (UV) coatings are invisible to your eyes while protecting them from the sun’s damaging rays, which are thought to be the cause of cataracts. UV treatments can be added to any lens clear plastic or clear glass lens.
Flash Mirror coatings are reflective coatings applied to the front of a lens. These fashion coatings appear to be slightly different shades depending on the angle and lighting. Coatings come in gold, silver and blue and can be added to sunglass lenses to make a statement.
Tints come in 13 colors and are most often added to lenses to create a fashion effect. Tints can be applied to most any lens material.
Contact lenses
Sometimes the best lens solution are contacts. Modern contact lenses come in many options (i.e. disposables, extended wear, bifocal, color changing) and various lens designs are available for a variety of vision corrections. Group Health offers ordering refills by phone with direct delivery by mail.
